Frump to Fab 2023

2Scratters

@sugarbaby125 you could do freelance for the theatres reporting back. You are amazing making your money go further to enjoy such a social diary. So nice to hear about lesser known shows.

2 Scratters xx

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Thank you Toni's Friend and 2 Scratters.  It makes such a difference to my life that I can access really cut price or free theatre tickets and cinema tickets.   

On Tuesday 2nd May in the evening, I went to the Ritzy cinema to watch the film Return to Seoul. I had a free ticket as a Picturehouse member. I really enjoyed this film. It deals with the difficult subject of Korean babies being adopted by families in the Western world. There were lots of moments of humour in this film to balance out the more serious moments. 

Yesterday afternoon, I went to The National Theatre to watch the play Dixon and Daughters again, as I loved the play so much last week.  I was able to get a ticket worth £30 for only 50p. 

Yesterday evening I used one of my Groupons for Leilani, the Nigerian/Caribbean restaurant. I took my son with me and we had 2 courses each with a soft drink. The Groupon only cost me £9.97 for food and drink worth £42.50. I had saltfish fritters for my starter, with a whole grilled sea bream with steamed white cabbage and carrot strips for my main. My son had steak, chips and salad for his main and apple crumble for his dessert. All of our food was delicious. 

I took delivery of my 1st Hello Fresh box on Tuesday morning. I cooked the 2 meals on Tuesday and yesterday afternoon. It was good for me to try new dishes to cook from scratch at home. We enjoyed both of the meals. As I got a 60% discount and free delivery on the 1st box, it only cost me £12.  I was also able to claim a free Gruum 3 piece set as a reward for being a new member of Hello Fresh which was worth £20, I only had to pay £3.95 for post and packaging. I received the set yesterday.   

Toni'sfriend

The food sounds delicious. I've never been to a Nigerian/Caribbean restaurant. I don't think there are any around our way.

Collected my new glasses today. Himself really likes them and the Boy says they make me look intellectual. Not sure if that's a compliment or not.  

sugarbaby125

Toni's Friend I am sure your new glasses are flattering and the boy was giving you a compliment. 

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

I'd like to join please, I used to be a 'Fabber' many years ago under a different name.

I am 53, busy full-time working mum with 2 grown up children and a grand-daughter, all of which live with us part-time.  I'm short (5' 4") and plump (12st 9lbs) so could do with losing some weight, I've gained 2 stone since meeting DH nearly 5 years ago.

I am a bit of a shopaholic BUT I'm doing well on reigning that in and using what I have already.  I have loads of clothes, shoes bags and toiletries and am looking a new exciting ways to make best use of them.  I follow Trinny Woodhall and love how she mixes colours, patterns and styles, I'm trying to do similar despite being a totally different body type to her.  My main issue is time, I usually chuck on something easy for work, hair up in a bun, minimal make up, glasses on and rush out the door on the school run (DGD).  If I'm going out I will make more effort, straighten my long thick hair, put in my contact lenses etc, I can actually scrub up quite well, I just need to do this more often!

@sugarbaby125 I'm amazed at how many shows you are managing to see, I live in a sleepy sea-side town so our local theatre is usually the best I can manage!

MvTMM

sugarbaby125

Welcome to the wonderful world of fabbing MvTMM  How would you prefer to be addressed on this thread

I am fortunate to live in London where there are not only the West End theatres, but local theatres everywhere. Of course before I discovered organisations that could give me access to really cut price or free theatre tickets, I would have been at home, watching television and reading.   

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

sugarbaby125 said:

Welcome to the wonderful world of fabbing MvTMM  How would you prefer to be addressed on this thread

I am fortunate to live in London where there are not only the West End theatres, but local theatres everywhere. Of course before I discovered organisations that could give me access to really cut price or free theatre tickets, I would have been at home, watching television and reading.   

Hi @sugarbaby125, MvTMM is just fine.

I thought you might be London based, how lucky you are, although I do love living by the sea.  Will you be going along tomorrow to join in the celebrations?

sugarbaby125

Hello MvTMM,

No I will not be going in person to the celebrations. I will watch the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla on television and the Coronation concert. 

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Toni's Friend, we only started to go to that Nigerian/Caribbean restaurant once they joined Groupon, as I was not prepared to pay their menu prices from my limited budget. It does so many delicious starters, mains and desserts. 

Yesterday afternoon I went to Hampstead Theatre to watch the play Blackout Songs. It was about 2 alcoholics in a relationship and it was quite dark even though there was some humour in the play. It was not really the right play for me, but it was well executed. I got a ticket worth £22.50 for £6.50. 

This evening I went to Sadlers Wells to watch the dance performance Vortex. It was contemporary dance and it was a really fantastic show.  I got my ticket which was worth £45 for free. 

Wednesday2000

I went to the local Thai massage place to get a pedicure yesterday. I asked if they did reflexology and they did so I had a half hour session. They then did my pedicure with a lovely bright pink colour. I hadn't had reflexology in about 6 years and I felt extremely relaxed afterwards and slept in until 10.30 this morning. The lady who did the reflexology knew that I had hurt my shoulder and she knew the knee I had surgery on just from my feet, so weird. I sent off for the form from my husband's work to get the £300 worth of free therapy sessions I can get to book more sessions. I need to use that every year as I think I have only taken advantage of it once or twice.

I have been talking about my husband retiring early again so I really need to get a grip on my finances. I worked out that we are spending £315 a month on our three pets! Cat litter, food, flea treament, insurance and treats. That isn't even including the kennel stays for my dog. My husband went to Aldi yesterday to get cat litter and cat and dog food and I worked that we could get the pet bill down to £205 if we keep doing that switch.

We found out that some of the work we need doing in our kitchen regarding the leak is covered by our insurance, luckily. We have a builder and a roofer coming round next week. I also have the dentist next week and I need to book the hygienist too. I have to book in my cats for their annual vaccinations and check-up too.

I saw there is a thread on here about How Much to Live On after retirement in the over 50's section. I'm 47, but I am making my way through that to see what other people need to live on after stopping working. It is 138 pages so it might take a while.